“Just the facts, ma’am,” was the infamous introductory phrase Sgt. Joe Friday would use when interrogating a witness in the whodunit TV series "Dragnet." Jack Webb played Sgt. Friday during "Dragnet’s" 1951-1959 lifespan.
"Dragnet’s" civil servant show often dealt with complex social issues. Let’s apply Sgt. Friday’s flat and concise “just the facts, ma’am” line to the current book banning craze before offering an opinion.
Fact no. 1: According to Pen America, 2,532 books were banned across 32 states – including all red states -- during the 2021-2022 school year.
